Bring 'em on. At noon today, UND Fighting Sioux fans will gather at the Alerus Center. UND football coach Dale Lennon will step gingerly onto the stage and tell us he respects the team from Winona State - the team the Sioux will meet in a playoff game Saturday. He may bring with him one of his seniors. He may say more about Brett Holinka, who saved the day in the waning minutes of the big game last Saturday at the University of South Dakota.
And then, Pete Kuhn, the master of ceremonies, will introduce Gene Roebuck, who has won more than a few games as coach of the UND Sioux women's basketball team. He has been on the back shelf practicing his vertical jumping skills and recruiting behind the scenes for many months - ever since he took his team to the national Elite Eight tournament last spring. He will be there to preview the weekend games because his 2007-08 team is making its debut here tonight and Saturday evening. No longer does he have his star point guard, Carissa Jahner. But he has been busy reloading.
Roebuck's team is opening its season here at home with the UND Classic and games against some tough cookies - Metro State of Denver and Montana State from Billings.
Also making his debut with Sioux fans at the luncheon today will be Brian Idalski, coach of the UND women's hockey team. The team is hosting Niagara this weekend.
The weekend at hand brings us one more last chance to see the likes of Weston Dressler and all 12 Sioux seniors here at home in the Alerus. If they move on, all eyes will be on Grand Rapids, Mich., next week. If they lose - well, it will be curtains. To make sure they don't, the tailgaters will be out early and often Saturday with heat pads in their shoes, gloves, hats and scarves. Robert Brooks will have the Pride of the North marching band tuned up and in step. . . . The Sioux Crew will make their presence known. . . .
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In addition to sports mania at UND campus this weekend, people all over the Red River Valley are making shopping lists for turkey, cranberries, sweet potatoes, stuffing mix, green beans and cranberries. . . . The annual Red River Valley Women's Studies Conference is going on today in UND's Memorial Union, and there's a Dance Marathon scheduled on campus Saturday. . . . Third Street Gallery is holding a grand reopening at 310 Kittson Ave. downtown Saturday. . . . "Elephant Man" continues tonight and Saturday at the UND Burtness Theatre. . . . And the Community Theatre version of "Jacques Briel" continues through Saturday evening at the Empire Arts Center downtown. . . . On campus, the Mortar Board honorary service group is continuing the tradition of gathering turkey baskets for needy families. . . .
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Ask Marilyn
Why should you share old pictures of life on the UND campus? They are collecting them for "UND Scrapbook: Celebrating 125 Years of Memories." They should go to the Office of Ceremonies and Special Events, Attn. Fred Wittmann, 264 Centennial Dr., Stop 7140, Grand Forks, ND 58202.Where do Sioux Boosters meet in Fargo? At the Kelly Inn at noon on the second Tuesday of every month.What does Aut inveniam viam aut faciam mean?
It's a Latin motto: "I will either find a way or make one."
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Cheerful person of the week: Danny Freund. Runner-up: Ashley Langen.
Reach Hagerty at mhagerty@gfherald.com or at (701) 772-1055.
